John Black and Ray Meers, partners in a mountain homestead, are in love with Ruth Grier. Her aged father favors Ray, but the girl loves John, and unable to let him know of her preference, she smuggles a note into his pocket. Before he ...See moreJohn Black and Ray Meers, partners in a mountain homestead, are in love with Ruth Grier. Her aged father favors Ray, but the girl loves John, and unable to let him know of her preference, she smuggles a note into his pocket. Before he finds it he and Ray quarrel on the edge of a cliff and Ray throws John over. He falls with a broken leg into the canyon beside the opening of an abandoned mine shaft. Ray, going to seek his body, finds only his hat and believes the body went down the shaft. Visiting Ruth, he tells her that John decided suddenly to go east, and has left the country. With John out of the way, Ray and Ruth's father work on her. Finally her father on his deathbed obtains her promise that she will marry Ray. Meanwhile John has been sheltered and nursed back to health by strangers in the valley below. When he is convalescent he finds the note and hurries back to the mountains but arrives just after the wedding. He does not enlighten the girl but finds a way to meet Ray, and telling him of his escape, warns him that unless he treats Ruth kindly he will have him to reckon with. Then he leaves the country. Returning seven years later he takes possession of a deserted cabin in the mountains. Meanwhile Ray and Ruth have a little daughter. Ray has taken to drink and abuses his wife. One day in a drunken rage Ray drives Ruth and the child from their home. Wandering far from home, Ruth falls exhausted. The child goes for help and reaches John's hut. He goes with the child and carries Ruth to his cabin. His hair has grown long and he wears a full beard and, although he recognizes Ruth at once, she does not know him. He wrings from her her pitiful story and becomes enraged. First shaving his beard so that he will not be disguised, he goes in search of Ray and meets him on the trail along the precipice at the same spot where, seven years before, Ray had made an attempt on his life. Brought face to face with John, Ray becomes terrified and in his fright draws backward. His foot slips on the edge of the trail, and in an instant he is dashed to his death. John, satisfying himself that Ray is beyond help, goes back to Ruth. With his beard removed she recognizes him then, remembering that she must go back to her drunken husband, she breaks down and sobs in John's arms. He comforts her and tells her sadly why she will never have to return to Ray. Written by
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